Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Information

1. Why was the Notice issued?

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri authorized the Notice. You have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit, and about all of your options, before the Court decides whether to grant final approval of the Settlement. The Notice explains the lawsuit, your legal rights, what benefits are available, and who can receive them.

The lawsuit is captioned Leavitt v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 1, Case No. Case No. 4:24-cv-01148, Case No. 4:24-cv-01148, pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The person that filed this lawsuit, Ralph Leavitt, is called the “Plaintiff” (or “Class Representative”) and the entity he sued, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 1, is called the “Defendant.”

2. What is this lawsuit about?

This lawsuit alleges that a targeted cyberattack on IBEW's computer systems occurred between March 31, 2024 and April 5, 2024, and certain files that contained private information were potentially accessed. These files may have contained personal employee information such as names and Social Security numbers.

3. Why is this a class action?

In a class action, one or more individuals sue on behalf of other people with similar claims. These individuals are called the “Plaintiffs” or “Class Representatives.” Together, the people included in the class action are called a “Class” or “Class Members.” One court resolves the lawsuit for all Class Members, except for those who opt out from the Settlement. In this Settlement, the Class Representative is Ralph Leavitt, and everyone included in this Litigation are the Class Members.

4. Why is there a Settlement?

The Court did not decide whether the Plaintiff or the Defendant is right. Both sides have agreed to a Settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial, and to allow the Class Members to receive benefits from the Settlement. Plaintiff and his attorneys think the Settlement is best for all Class Members.

Who is in the Settlement?

5. Who is included in the Settlement?

The Court has defined the Class this way: “All individuals residing in the United States whose PII may have been compromised in the Data Incident that impacted IBEW in March 2024, including all those individuals who received notice of the Data Incident.”

6. Are there exceptions to being included?

Yes. Excluded from the Class are: (1) the judges presiding over this Litigation, and members of those judges’ immediate families; (2) the Defendant, its subsidiaries, parent companies, successors, predecessors, and any entity in which the Defendant or its parents have a controlling interest, and its current or former officers and directors; and (3) Settlement Class Members who submit a valid request for exclusion prior to the Opt-Out Deadline.

If you are not sure whether you are a Class Member, you can ask for free help any time by contacting the Settlement Administrator at:

You may also view the Settlement Agreement here.

The Settlement Benefits

7. What does the Settlement provide?

IBEW has agreed to establish a $315,000.00 Settlement Fund. Part of the Settlement Fund will be used to pay for expenses like attorneys' fees and costs, the Service Award to the Plaintiff, and the costs of administering the Settlement. The rest of the Settlement Fund will be used to pay benefits that Class Members can claim. You are not limited to one benefit, and can claim one or all of them.

BENEFITS

Compensation for Unreimbursed Economic Losses. If the Data Incident caused you real, documented losses, you may file a claim for reimbursement. You can get reimbursed up to $10,000.00.

This benefit covers documented out-of-pocket expenses like:

• unreimbursed losses relating to fraud or identity theft;

• professional fees, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees;

• fees for credit repair services;

• costs associated with freezing or unfreezing credit with any credit reporting agency;

• credit monitoring costs that were incurred on or after March 31, 2024, through the date you submit your claim; and

• miscellaneous expenses such as notary, fax, postage, copying, mileage, and long-distance telephone charges.

You must send proof, like receipts, to establish a valid claim. You can add your own notes to explain other papers, but those notes alone are not enough to make a valid claim.

Pro Rata Cash Payment. All Class Members may submit a claim for a Pro Rata Cash Payment. After all expenses and other claims have been paid out, the money remaining in the Settlement Fund will be equally divided among everyone who claimed a Pro Rata Cash Payment. Class Counsel expects that these payments will be over $50.00 per valid claim. This amount may increase or decrease.

Credit Monitoring Services. All Class Members are eligible to receive two years of Credit Monitoring Services from three credit bureaus.

If you have questions about these benefits, you can ask for free help any time by contacting the Settlement Administrator at:

8. What claims am I releasing if I stay in the Class?

Unless you opt out of the Settlement, you won’t be able to sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants about any of the legal claims this Settlement resolves. The “Releases” section of the Settlement Agreement (Section IX) describes the legal claims that you give up if you remain in the Settlement Class. The Settlement Agreement is available at www.LocalNo1IBEWSettlement.com.

Submitting a Claim Form for a Settlement Payment

9. How do I submit a claim for a Settlement benefit?

The fastest way to submit your Claim Form is online here. If you prefer, you can download the Claim Form here and mail it to the Settlement Administrator at:

You may also contact the Settlement Administrator to request a Claim Form by telephone, toll free, 1-833-360-6781, by email info@LocalNo1IBEWSettlement.com, or by U.S. mail at the address above.

10. Are there any important Settlement payment deadlines?

If you are filing online, complete your claim by October 6, 2025. If you are filing a paper copy, your signed Claim Form with proof must be postmarked by October 6, 2025.

11. When will the Settlement benefits be issued?

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on October 20, 2025 (see FAQ 18), and it may be held remotely. If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals. We do not know if appeals will be filed, or how long it will take to resolve them if they are filed.

Settlement benefits will be distributed if the Court grants final approval, and after any appeals are resolved.

The Lawyers Representing You

12. Do I have a lawyer in the case?

Yes, the Court appointed attorney Cassandra P. Miller of Strauss Borrelli PLLC to represent you and other Class Members (“Class Counsel”).

13. Should I get my own lawyer?

You will not be charged for Class Counsel’s services. If you want your own lawyer, you may hire one at your expense.

14. How will Class Counsel be paid?

Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve attorneys’ fees up to $105,000.00, and litigation costs of up to $10,000.00. Class Counsel will also ask for a Service Award of $5,000.00 for the Class Representative. These expenses and the cost of administration will be paid from the Settlement Fund.

Excluding Yourself from the Settlement

15. How do I opt out of the Settlement?

If you do not want to be part of the Settlement, you must formally exclude yourself from the Settlement. This is called a Request for Exclusion and is sometimes also called “opting out.” If you opt out, you will not receive a Settlement payment, but you will keep any rights you may have to sue IBEW on your own about the legal issues in this case.

If you exclude yourself, you are telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. You will not be eligible to receive any Settlement benefits if you exclude yourself.

The deadline to exclude yourself from the Settlement is September 5, 2025.

To be valid, your Request for Exclusion must have the following information:

1. the name of the Litigation: Leavitt v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 1, Case No. 4:24-cv-01148, pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri;

2. your full name and current mailing address;

3. personal signature; and

4. the words “Request for Exclusion” or a clear and similar statement that you do not want to participate in the Settlement.

You may only exclude yourself—not any other person.

Mail your Request for Exclusion to the Settlement Administrator at:

Your Request for Exclusion must be postmarked by September 5, 2025.

Commenting on or Objecting to the Settlement

16. How do I tell the Court if I like or do not like the Settlement?

If you are in the Class and do not like the Settlement, you can object. That means telling the Court why you think it should not be approved. The Court will consider what you say.

You cannot object if you have excluded yourself from the Settlement (see FAQ 15)

To be valid, your objection must provide the following information:

1. the name of the Litigation: Leavitt v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 1, Case No. 4:24-cv-01148, pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri;

2. your full name, current mailing address, and telephone number;

3. a clear description of all the reasons you object; include any legal support you may have for your objection and explain if your objection applies only to you or the entire Class;

4. if you have hired your own lawyer to represent you at the Final Approval Hearing, provide their name and telephone number;

5. whether or not you or your lawyer would like to appear and/or speak at the Final Approval Hearing;

6. describe or provide copies of any evidence you want to present at the Final Approval Hearing;

7. a list of all other cases in which you have objected in the past five years; and

8. your signature (or, if you have hired your own lawyer, your lawyer’s signature).

For your objection to be valid, it must meet each of these requirements.

You must file your complete objection with the Clerk of Court by September 5, 2025. You must also send copies of the objection to Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel. Failure to file your objection and send copies to Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel will result in your objection being invalid.

17. What is the difference between objecting and excluding?

Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object to the Settlement only if you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement. Excluding yourself from the Settlement is opting out and stating to the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. If you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot object to it because the Settlement no longer affects you.

The Court’s Final Approval Hearing

18. When is the Court’s Final Approval Hearing?

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on October 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., Central Time at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse, 111 S. 10th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102.

At the Final Approval Hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement. The Court will also decide how Class Counsel should be paid, and whether to award a Service Award to the Class Representative who brought this Action on behalf of the Class. The Court will also consider any objections to the Settlement.

If you are a Class Member, you or your lawyer may ask permission to speak at the hearing at your own cost (see FAQ 16).

The hearing date and time may change without further notice. Please check this website for updates.

19. Do I have to come to the Final Approval Hearing?

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. You may attend at your own expense if you want to, but you do not have to.

If you file an objection, you do not have to come to the Final Approval Hearing to talk about it; the Court will consider it as long as it was complete and filed on time. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but you do not have to.

If I Do Nothing

20. What happens if I do nothing at all?

If you do nothing, you will not receive a benefit from this Settlement.

You will also give up the rights described in FAQ 8.

Getting More Information

21. How do I get more information?

This website and the Notice are a summary of the proposed Settlement. The full Settlement Agreement and other related documents are available under the Important Documents page of this website.

If you have additional questions, you can ask for free help any time by contacting the Settlement Administrator at:

You can obtain copies of publicly filed documents by visiting the office of the Clerk of the Court, Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse, 111 S. 10th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63102.